Five parallel processes... in harmony

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A little over a month ago we met in Assembly under the theme, Many Voices – One Song.  As we move into this summer of 2016 I want to share with you how the Song we’re called to sing as God’s people here in the Rocky Mountain Synod is finding expression in some particular ways.

Five parallel processes are taking place this summer, all components of the Song we are singing together.

Soprano – Strategic Planning

If we think of the soprano voice of the Song as carrying the melody, this reflects the continuing work of our RMS Strategic Planning process.  As we continue to listen carefully to the many voices around our synod, the Planning Team is seeking to put words on the mission and goals to which the Spirit is calling us in this time.  Click here for a summary of the listening so far, and stay tuned for updates on the melody line that the Team is discerning for our life together!

Alto – Office of the Bishop Staffing

The alto voice often provides harmony to the voice carrying the melody.  In many ways this is the role of the bishop’s staff – to help harmonize the mission to which we as a church and synod are being called.  In light of the retirement of Pastor Ron Roschke, and informed by our current strategic planning process, I have realigned the staffing for the Office of the Bishop with the hopes that this new configuration will help us more effectively live out our mission as the Rocky Mountain Synod.  The plan takes effect August 1 and includes the same number of overall staff positions with no increase to the budget. A new part-time position for Faith Formation (to be appointed by the bishop with the approval of synod council) is scheduled to begin September 1. Priority was given to regularizing compensation for existing staff based on RMS Compensation Guidelines for Rostered Leaders before allocating resources for a new position.  For an overview of the new staffing design, click here.


Tenor – Generosity Table/Mission Support Inventory

The tenor voice lends support and depth to the melody and harmonies being sung. At Assembly we had an important conversation about the role of congregational mission support in undergirding our life together as a synod and as a wider church.  As we made the difficult decision to change our allocation of synodical mission support to our Churchwide ministries from 50% to 46% - hopefully for as short as time as possible – I indicated my commitment to facilitate our conversation about the role of generosity and stewardship in our life together and to help us engage in a meaningful conversation about mission support. As part of the commitment, we will be convening our RMS Generosity Table in June even as we invite your congregation to complete a Mission Support Inventory to offer background information on the trends for congregational giving.  To see more about the Generosity Table and Mission Support Inventory, click here.

Bass – Lilly Grant Project

The bass voice carries the lowest notes in the song and undergirds all the other voices.  Last month we received word that the Rocky Mountain Synod had been granted funding by Lilly Foundation to apply for a $500,000 grant that would allow us to address the financial stresses being faced by our rostered leaders.  This particular Lilly program is part of a national multi-denominational effort to address the question of generosity and stewardship in faith communities by focusing on the financial strains that impact ministry leaders in their service.  Pastor Ron Roschke is leading a small research team to help prepare our grant application and as part of the process will be sending your congregation a survey to help identify the most pressing financial issues currently facing our rostered leaders.  You’ll receive this survey in conjunction with the Mission Support Inventory.  For more information on this important Lilly Grant program, click here.

Rhythm – ELCA Churchwide Assembly

The rhythm provides the tempo to which the Song is sung.  As we in the Rocky Mountain Synod blend the various parts of the Song that God calling us to sing, we are informed by the rhythm of our life as part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  This August our Churchwide Assembly will take place in New Orleans and we will be asking some of the same questions as a whole church that we are asking in our synod: namely, why does our ELCA witness to the gospel matter, and how do we seek to carry out that witness together as Christ’s church.  To stay connected to the rhythms of our life as a wider church, click here for the link to ELCA Churchwide Assembly information and resources.

As summer progresses, I encourage you to stay connected to these various dimensions of God’s Song within the Rocky Mountain Synod.  As you do, I pray that you’ll recognize with me how the Spirit continues to be about the work of forming and re-forming us, that our shared voices may indeed sing God’s Song with joy and passion!


Yours in Faith,
Bishop Jim Gonia

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